Student Suspensions

Learning Environment

Student Suspensions

What does this measure?

The number of students who were suspended from school for at least one full day, expressed as a percentage of total enrollment. Data pertain only to out-of-school suspensions; both short-term and long-term suspensions count as a suspension.

Why is this important?

Suspensions are an indication of the level of misbehavior in schools, which has a negative impact on the education of both suspended and non-suspended students.

How is our region performing?

In 2016, 4.4% of students in our region had been suspended at least once, roughly comparable to the 3.1% rate reported statewide. Figures for the Rochester City School District demonstrate that this is not a reliable indicator of the school behavioral climate given intiatives to reduce high suspension rates experienced between 2000 and 2006. In response to a change in policy, Rochester's suspension rate fell sharply from nearly 23% in 2006 to 1.7% in 2013 and started to rise again in 2016 to 9.8%. The rates in counties surrounding Monroe have remained largely flat over the decade, with the exception of Wyoming, which experienced large jumps in its suspension rate between 2010 to 2011 and again in 2013 and 2014.

Notes about the data

Suspension rates may vary by policy and enforcement between schools; thus lower rates do not necessarily mean that students are behaving better.

Featured Indicator

The percent of students tested who met or exceeded the state standard on the NYS Grade 3 English exam. Student performance is scored from level 1 to 4. The state standard is met by scoring at level 3 or 4 and is considered passing.